Chalk-line marker.



e. P. CARTER.

CHALK LINE MARKER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-6.1915.

1,168,851 Patented Jan. 18, 1916 w- 5 IL 5% (1 3mm;

"12 COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co, WAsHlNr'roN n c To all whom it may concern.

GEORGE P. CARTER, OF FAIRFIELID, NORTH CAROLINA.

CHALK-LINE MARKER.

Be it known that I, Gnonen P. Canrnma citizen of the United States, residing at Fair-field, in the county of Hyde and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chalk- Line Markers, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to chalk line markers and has for its primary object to provide a simply constructed, serviceable device of this character for marking a guide line upon. billiard tables, floors, or in other instances where it is necessary or desirable to provide a suitable guiding line or mark.

The invention has for a further object to provide a device of the above character including a drum having a line wound thereon, spring pressed chalking blocks, said line extending through a suitable guide and engaging said blocks at their opposed faces, rotatably niounted cylinders to contain the chalking blocks, and gearing connecting the drum shaft to one of the cylinder shafts whereby the chalking blocks are positively rotated as the line. is unwound from the drum.

It is an additional object of my invention to provide a chalk line marker which is so constructed as to reduce to a minimum, waste of the chalk, the holding cylinders for the chalk being removable so that the supply of chalk may be readily replenished and the device, as a whole, being capable of manufacture at comparatively small cost.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section of my improved chalk line marker; Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 5 designates the casing which is provided on its end walls with suitable bearings or supports for a longitudinally disposed shaft 6. Upon this shaft, the drum 7 is fixed, and to the same, one end of a flexible line 8. is suitably attached. A relatively short shaft 6 is also journaled in one end of the case and upon the same a gear wheel 9 is fixed, said gear wheel meshing with a pinion 9' secured Specification of Letters Patent. Patgntgd Jan. 1g 11916.

Application filed March c, 1915. Serial No. 12,617.

upon the shaft 6 so that saidshaft will. be driven at a relatively high speed. One end of a spiral spring 6 is also fixed to the shaft 6, the other end thereof being suitably secured to the wall of the casing 5. The large gear wheel 10 is also fixed upon the shaft 6. A second longitudinally extending shaft 11 is mounted in suitable bearings 12 within the casing in axial alinement with the shaft 11 and upon the opposed ends of the shafts 11 and 13, the cylinders 1% are engaged and ,removably secured by means of suitable set screws indicated at 15.

C designates a plurality of chalk blocks ordisks which are arranged in each of the cylinders 1d and normally forced outwardly by means of coil springs 16 in the inner ends of said cylinders. These springs yieldingly hold the outermost chalk disks in contact with each other. The casing is preferably provided with a suitable compartment 17 to receive a supply of the chalk disks, said compartment having a door 18. A second door 19 is also provided in the front of the case, whereby access may be had to the interior thereof for the purpose of removing vin.

the cylinders 1e from the respective shafts 11 and 13. Upon the shaft 11, a pinion 21 is fixed, with which the gear 10 meshes, whereby said shaft 11 is positively driven.

In the operation of the device, when it is desired to mark a chalk line upon the table or other surface, the end of the cord or other flexible element 8, which extends through an opening in one wall of the case 5, is grasped and said cord pulled or unwound upon the drum 7. The shaft 6 is thus rotated and the spring 9 placed under tension. As the cord is withdrawn from the case, the same bears against the outermost chalk disks in the cylinders 14 at the contacting faces thereof, and by such abrasive contact of the cord with the chalk, the cord becomes coated with the chalk powder. The chalk containing cylinfor every revolution of the shaft 6, the

shaft 6 carrying the spool or drum, makes 10 revolutlons. It is, however, obvious that other ratios used may be provided,ifdesired,

to obtain an increase or decrease in speed of the spool shaft. By the provision of the The ratio chalk guide lines. The cylinders 14: may be readily removed from the shafts 11 and 13 and replenished With chalk disks from the compartment 17. When the guide line is re leased, the spring 6 Will, of course,.expand and rewind the line upon the drum 7. This a line may be of any desired length, in accordance With the purpose for which the device is tobe used. It is, of course, obvious that, if desired, friction Wheels may be substituted for the gear 10 and pinion 21.

The device is also susceptible of considerable modification in the form, proportion, and arrangement of the several elements emi ployed, and it Will, therefore, be understoodthat I reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodied Within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus fully described my invention,

What I desire to Patent is 1. A chalk line marker including a spring held drum, a'line wound upon said drum, spaced axially alined shafts, cylinders fixed on said shafts, spring pressedchalk disks in claim and secure by Letters said cylinders, means for guiding said line in contact With the chalk disks, and gearing connecting the drum shaft to'one of said latter shafts, whereby the chalk containing cylinders are positively rotated as the line is unwound from the drum.

2. A chalk marker including a casing, a shaft mounted in said casing, a drum fixed upon said line and a line Wound upon said drum, a second shaft in the casing, a pinion fixed upon the first named shaft, a relatively large gear on the second shaft meshing with said pinion, a spiralspring fixed to the case at one end and connected tothe second shaft at its other end to rotate thesame in one direction, a pair of spaced axially alined shafts mounted in said casing, cylinders removably secured upon the opposed ends of said shaft, spring pressed chalk disks arranged in each of the cylinders, said line being adapted for passing between the outermost chalk disks, and gearing connecting one of the latter shafts With the drum shaft whereby the chalk cylinders are rotated as the line is unwound froin the drum, said spiral spring being simultaneously placed under tension.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

GEORGE P. CARTER.

Witnesses i JAs. C. Carson, i L. L. RICE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' I Washington, D. G. 

